Mitac's Mio 168 PPC in the UK & Samsung Introduces New Wi-Fi PDA

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/36405.html' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/36405.html</a><br /><br /></div>The Register reports that "Samsung will introduce a Wi-Fi PDA next month, the Nexio XP30, the company said this week. Built around a 400MHz Intel XScale PXA255 processor, the Windows CE .Net 4.1-based unit also contains 64MB of Flash memory and 128MB of SDRAM." Note, this is not a PPC – as it runs Windows CE and has a 5in, 800 x 480 screen. Other features include WiFi, a USB port and a CF slot. The Nexio XP30 should go on sale next month in South Korea for around $679, <br /><br />Also, "British PC maker Evesham Technology this week brought Mitac's Mio 168 PocketPC with integrated GPS to the UK. The handheld, launched last November in Taiwan as world's first PocketPC with a built-in GPS receiver, will ship over here with CoPilot Live UK and Ireland street-level navigation software. CoPilot provides spoken directions, and will alert you to the presence of speed cameras. It can even work out quick detours around traffic jams and roadworks, if you encounter any, Evesham said." Note, *if* you encounter any. It must be nice to live in Evesham's world. :wink: <br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/MIO168SATNAV.gif" /> <br /><br />The 168 features all the usual specs for a slightly lower end PPC. Go on, recite them with me, Windows Mobile 2003, 300MHz XScale CPU, 64Mb RAM, 32Mb ROM, 3.5in 240 x 320.screen and a SD/MMC slot. The icing on the cake is the integrated GPS receiver, with an aerial that stows away when not in use. What will they think of next? 8) <br /><br />Prices start at £499.99 inc VAT and you can find them <a href="http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/ProductList.asp?e=4E5B6756-C0E6-4A33-88F8-ABA177F96D27">on sale here</a>. Though you'll probably want to compare the Mitac to the Medion Pocket PCs with GPS we talked about <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25881&amp;"> earlier this week</a>.

[Will T Smith]

The Register reports that "Samsung will introduce a Wi-Fi PDA next month, the Nexio XP30, the company said this week. Built around a 400MHz Intel XScale PXA255 processor, the Windows CE .Net 4.1-based unit also contains 64MB of Flash memory and 128MB of SDRAM." Note, this is not a PPC – as it runs Windows CE and has a 5in, 800 x 480 screen. Other features include WiFi, a USB port and a CF slot. The Nexio XP30 should go on sale next month in South Korea for around $679,

Also, "British PC maker Evesham Technology this week brought Mitac's Mio 168 PocketPC with integrated GPS to the UK. The handheld, launched last November in Taiwan as world's first PocketPC with a built-in GPS receiver, will ship over here with CoPilot Live UK and Ireland street-level navigation software. CoPilot provides spoken directions, and will alert you to the presence of speed cameras. It can even work out quick detours around traffic jams and roadworks, if you encounter any, Evesham said." Note, *if* you encounter any. It must be nice to live in Evesham's world. :wink:

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/MIO168SATNAV.gif

The 168 features all the usual specs for a slightly lower end PPC. Go on, recite them with me, Windows Mobile 2003, 300MHz XScale CPU, 64Mb RAM, 32Mb ROM, 3.5in 240 x 320.screen and a SD/MMC slot. The icing on the cake is the integrated GPS receiver, with an aerial that stows away when not in use. What will they think of next? 8)

Prices start at £499.99 inc VAT and you can find them on sale here (http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/ProductList.asp?e=4E5B6756-C0E6-4A33-88F8-ABA177F96D27). Though you'll probably want to compare the Mitac to the Medion Pocket PCs with GPS we talked about earlier this week (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=25881&amp;).



I'm really not addressing this device specifically. But lately I've seen more devices with these antennas hanging off the back. Indeed, most Wi-Fi CF cards have sizeable antennas.

You know what they look like ???? They look like woefully undersized flip lids.

I'm curious if any vendor has tried combining an antenna and a flip lid together. Specifically, a Jornada style lid may be perfect. You would simply include metal contact connectors where the lid attaches.

This way, the device could include an exeptional antenna that seems to add ZERO size to the device (since everybody likes those Vaja flip up cases anyway). I'm sure a larger antenna (this size of a lid) would provide better reception for wi-fi, bluetooth and GPS (provided the antennas are thin enough).

What do people say. Can we finally get our integrated flip lids back by building antennas into them?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[Kati Compton]

I don't like to be critical (in public, anyway), especially of devices I haven't seen in person...

But is that button layout as bad as I think it looks??

[Jonathon Watkins]

But is that button layout as bad as I think it looks??

Hmmm, very true about the buttons. Have any of the PPCers actually got one of these things, or even seem one? Care to comment?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Can we finally get our integrated flip lids back by building antennas into them?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I like it. It's logical, creative and cute.

Could the idea fly though? Any OEM's out there listening?